Author Topic: What have you done with your bike/s today?  (Read 639043 times)

Online RDfella

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4080 on: 12.11. 2025 11:29 »
As Chaterlea says - sadly am way behind with the latest one. Had a lot of things going on recently, plus delays because at 78 I'm getting past getting this type of bike on / off the lift and the rollers alone so, when I'm checking something, every time means a delay waiting for my son to assist. And now designing / creating a starter makes for further delay. Disappointing, but that's life.
Will try a photo of current state of play soon. Adding to John's message, my first vee used modified B31 heads and barrels, but the 60deg and latest have my own cylinders. Designing / making cylinder heads (why re-invent the wheel?) would seriously delay things further, so the 60deg uses Yamaha XT500 heads modded to SR specs, the latest (my designation GB3) AJS heads.  *smiley4*

Addendum - no, I wouldn't put myself on a par with Alan. I go for neat & tidy, he goes for perfection.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4081 on: 12.11. 2025 17:08 »
As promised, a couple of pics of the latest vee.
Still a fair bit to do eg build a starter, find out why the mag keeps getting a sooty slip-ring (already changed brushes for better ones) and now I notice the rear mudguard needs modification to clear the toolbox - that'll be hassle. Rear manifold will need a tiny drain so the rear cyl doesn't flood (= manifold off again) there's a silencer to sort .... and so it goes on. Was despairing over the oil not returning - with no obvious fault - but glad that's now remedied itself. I'm a fan of K70's on the rear but is not my favourite on the front, just happens I had a new one the right size (I prefer Speedmasters). Also, would have preferred the rear carb to be on the RHS, but that wasn't possible with the mag behind the cylinders. Thought the mag position beside the rear cyl on the 60deg vee was a bit unsightly so went for behind on this one.
Being it won't be an everyday ride or used at night, I'm not planning fitting a charging system. Got enough to do anyway, with major restoration of an 18ft fishing launch I built in '76 currently taking up most of my time.

For anyone who's interested, here's the specs:
AJS heads
Plunger gearbox
Norton clutch
Monobloc carbs
Triumph oil pump
Thunder con-rods
K2F Mag
Suzy GS750 front forks
Suzy GT750 front wheel
Ariel FW rear hub
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Online Greybeard

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4082 on: 12.11. 2025 17:27 »
A real Superbike👌
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Online Worty

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4083 on: 12.11. 2025 17:28 »
Looks brilliant.

I've always wanted a big (not Harley) V twin in a small, compact frame, with no frills (naked, I think they call it nowadays).  Just the very basics for a motorcycle.  I think there was a new Brough that came out some time ago that was close-ish to what I imagined.  However, I don't like the look of new motorcycles (anything from roughly the late 80s on), and I can't stand fairing on a bike.

Something like a long lost V twin 1000cc in an old Brit frame would do the trick.  Something like the Model G or G30 but a little bit more updated (although I do love the look of those machines).

What you've done looks excellent - just has a 'way' about it.  Well done mate! *good3*
Current Bikes😎
Kwaka W650
'61 Flash

Past Bikes👍
'49 B31
'59 BMW R60
Yam FS1-E, YB100, RS100, RD200DX,250DX,350B, XS750
MZ250

Offline CheeserBeezer

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4084 on: 12.11. 2025 18:47 »
Love it! I particularly like its compact appearance.

Offline greybloke

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4085 on: 12.11. 2025 20:02 »
Awesome build! Eat yer heart out, Baron Frankenstein
49 A7 plunger

Offline Joolstacho

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4086 on: 12.11. 2025 21:20 »
Worty, they've done it... called a Vincent Rapide.

Online Worty

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4087 on: 13.11. 2025 08:55 »
Worty, they've done it... called a Vincent Rapide.

Jools, mate, they're a work of true art *ex* *ex*

If all the guys on this forum can have a whip round and buy me one for Christmas, I'd never forget it, truly. *whistle* *wink2*  The alternative is to flog the wife and kids, but I'm not sure that's legal any more. *eek* :-:
Current Bikes😎
Kwaka W650
'61 Flash

Past Bikes👍
'49 B31
'59 BMW R60
Yam FS1-E, YB100, RS100, RD200DX,250DX,350B, XS750
MZ250

Offline Catz

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4088 on: 13.11. 2025 09:08 »

If all the guys on this forum can have a whip round and buy me one for Christmas, I'd never forget it, truly. *whistle* *wink2*  The alternative is to flog the wife and kids, but I'm not sure that's legal any more. *eek* :-:

That's a very nice looking bike.
Regarding your last post that 've quoted, about 20 years ago the members of the FJOC forum clubbed together to buy one of it's long standing members an FJ1200, can't remember the reason, i think his had been nicked. Anyway the bike came from up North and a few of us did a relay to get the bike to him in South Wales. I picked the bike up here in Crewe and relayed it to him where i met him at Devils Bridge near Aberystwyth.
So things like that do happen occasionally so keep hinting and keep your fingers crossed. ;)
Crewe, Cheshire, England 1960 A10

WTFAY

Online Worty

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4089 on: 13.11. 2025 09:13 »
................. I live in a kennel with the dog, and my wife beats me daily *sad2* *sad2*
Current Bikes😎
Kwaka W650
'61 Flash

Past Bikes👍
'49 B31
'59 BMW R60
Yam FS1-E, YB100, RS100, RD200DX,250DX,350B, XS750
MZ250

Offline Catz

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4090 on: 13.11. 2025 09:19 »
That's not a good enough reason.  *sleepy*
Crewe, Cheshire, England 1960 A10

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Offline Joolstacho

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4091 on: 13.11. 2025 09:20 »
Worty, Rapide... maybe as good as we could get eh? A few years ago I found a really good Velo for my nephew in the US. Been great for him. And then last year he came across a Rapide at about half it's market value. Wow! Thing is, if you don't believe in Karma, read on... Sean has spent half his life designing clever mechanisms for desperately poor 3rd World peoples so they can find and bore water etc. He could have been a merchant banker but he chose another path. And so Karma gave Sean a delicious Rapide.

(Now, where did MY 'kin' Karma go?!)

"flog the wife and kids, but...".

Mate can you send photographs please.

Online Worty

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4092 on: 13.11. 2025 09:42 »
Jools, Sean deserves it, good on him!!

Catz - Boooooooo

The wife stole my camera too😢😢😢
Current Bikes😎
Kwaka W650
'61 Flash

Past Bikes👍
'49 B31
'59 BMW R60
Yam FS1-E, YB100, RS100, RD200DX,250DX,350B, XS750
MZ250

Online RDfella

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4093 on: 13.11. 2025 16:42 »
Given the interest in the latest vee, thought it might be fascinating to see the process of creating a crankshaft from scratch.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Online Worty

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Re: What have you done with your bike/s today?
« Reply #4094 on: 13.11. 2025 16:49 »
It's like ju ju magic to me. 

I love it, am fascinated by it, would love to understand it, but don't have a clue about it!

Fantastic in every sense. *good3* *respect* *respect*
Current Bikes😎
Kwaka W650
'61 Flash

Past Bikes👍
'49 B31
'59 BMW R60
Yam FS1-E, YB100, RS100, RD200DX,250DX,350B, XS750
MZ250